Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-01


that had been laid to surprise her and she had
allowed herself 10 be taken. She pushed Su
same into the fathers arms and the child
closed her eyes as she oheyed her. Laroque
forgot his grief in his chld's embrace, and
he had his arms about those two beings he
he'll most dear
"ueuriette, My good and dear wife how
happy amln And then turning toward the
judge, he said:
"Nou are veGy kind, sir and | thank you
with all my heart for permitting me to see
my wife and child No matter what may be
The conclusion of this horrible affair, thank
You for your generous consideration of hus-
band and fathers feelings"
you have nothing to thank me for" said
the judge coldly Il told you that You were
seen to enter Larouette's house, and to have
aSsassmateJ him
by woman and a child Very well; let
them confront me
"You were seen" continued the judge, by
mother and child. There they are-your
wife and your ciliidr
THEY saw mel Me! Ny wife and child
saw me kin Larouette! Take care, sir You
calumniate.o
Then he sprang forward and took hold of
their arms and shook them. He hurt them,
poor man. without knowing it,
You saw me-you two, they pretend
You hear them tell me that you accuse me,
that you saw me. Speak! PROTEST. Rise
and tell that man who accuses me that he
has lied about it, that it is not, could not,
be true; that you could not have seen Roger
H4aroque commit a crime of which he is in
capable.
They could not speak He still CRASHED
their arms and begged them to deny this
foul charge At last Henriette rose from
her chair, and with difficulty stood before
him.
"Henriette, Suzanne, what ais YOU. Are
you sick! What have they done to You that
you cannot speak.'
Roger said irnriette painfully, M De
| Ligneroles is wrong to tell you that we were
witnesses to a murder For three days they
| have pursued u.s. Suzanne and ME, to force
| US to avOw what we have not seen. have
| but to repeat to You, in my own name aud
| that Of my child, what we nave already said
| many times, We know nothing of how that
murder was committed, and We do not know
| why they dare accuse you"
'Ab, that relieves me. You have spoken
| 1t Is impossible that you could have seen me,
| since was not there. but for an instant /
WAS frightened of know not what - Then
turning to the iufIce he cried.
| Why did you bring my wife and child
here telling me that they were witnessed
| You go beyond YOUR power as Judge. You
| have Just told me a falSehood which my wife
| has proved to be one The law, perhalsS,
| justifes such devistions from truth but do
| not
| The magistrate answered gently for he
| pitied that poor mother and child:
at is proven that they saw You
| "Provrd,7 said Iaraaue, GAINED by a SUI
| preme effort "Henriette, You hear. | can
| say nothing What do Won sayg
| "Thaf cannot I've since I understand moth
| inr of whit thew ask Of me -
| VictoI-i, was recalled and the roor servant
| repeated word for word what sic had SAID
| before, emitting nothing. Roger listened
| breatbIess. his nerves strunp tn their highest
tension, and trying TO comprehend. Then he
rose with hagsard eyes and stretched out his
| hand, saying:
"Take care of me! feel am going madr'
After a long silence he seemed to under
stand, little by little. Now he knew. Hen
riette and Suzanne had seen, but whatl They
| had refused to speak Whyg He must know
Roger threw himself on his knees before his
wife, took her hands and caressed them, and
| then, as though he would have spoken TO a
| child he said:
"Tell the truth Is it true that you saw
me2 You denied it, did you not? Up
| to the last minute YOU say that Won did
did not see that murder committed, and Su-
Zanne said the same. They questioned you
Ill vain But now, my dear wife. and you,
my little daughter, must tel all Do not be
| afraid, since am not guilty, to tell all you
know They accuse me, but perhaps your
| testimony will prove my innocence"
He held his wife's and chld's hands all
gathered in his and he kissed them all to-
gether. Mother and child, with pale faces,
kept silence
The magistrate interviewed
Il brought you into the presence of your
husband " said lie, because | hope still that
YOU will listen to his PRAYERS and understand
that you had better tell all You saw. no mat.
ter what it was, for his sake than In keen this
stranpe silence Your husband will ton ,o,,
pJaiuer than | can that if is i'm bie ;ptaract
that YOU speak. To all Of MS if isevida,,t tb,t
You ana Your Child saw this murder The
e,ravest charge hangs over vorr buaho,d,.
bend Therefor if Won r,furo 10 o,,aal, :. :.
herause vnnr husband - oilt, n :
Then turning toward .ha ,,ola,',,,' D 80.
| h., ,,,,,,t;,,,,,.I "''PPS i''e'i
.EvnIain wou tn ro,r ,,;fo ond ,or,
danrhter and NOV rn,, Ia -, s.''a Sou'
uare y wv
aHenristte Won beor :, hot tho i,,,o,o 800,
What ha saws il trna do.r " - -.
pears very strange TO tbem and natnraIl,
they relieve that Victori. tolls tho -
Now know that You cos,ld not have saa,, m,
at the cottage and | have nothing to feor. so
my darling, since | am innocent and yo,
could not have seen me, if you did see any
body you should tell it, even in my interest
So, Henrlette, my wife, tell us what YOU
know"
Still no sound, no movement from Hen
riette, who seemed like one magnetized.
"Didyou hear me, Henriette!'
She made an affirmative sign.
WY then persist in this silence, which i
my colueiliiltloh'
= nave iiotnllg 10 say"
heihleItti Nlctorlas testimony is precise